Question

Will the resistance of a bacteria increase after prolonged exposure to an antibiotic?

Answer 1

Yes- I think (but check with teacher)

Explanation:

The resistance of bacteria is due to random mutations within the bacteria's genes that make them resistant to antibiotics. Because all the other bacterium die as a result of antibiotic, only these ones survive and reproduce, thus creating a larger colony of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Prolonged exposure to antibiotics, leaves more opportunity for only antibiotic resistant bacteria to multiply and develop, therefore making them the only surviving population and giving them more space and nutrients to thrive and infect other hosts. This will deem antibiotics completely useless to this new strain of bacteria, unless a new one is developed which takes a lot of money and time.